Tiny Diggers – An iPad Construction Truck Game for Kids Age 2-5

In gaming, I’ve been finding myself more and more disappointed with the art we’re given as Americans. When you go to a game’s website and download some desktop images, it’s becoming pretty common that you’re given different art than the Japanese site offers. I’m not talking the same art with our crazy phoenician letters instead of their wacky kana, no, I mean entirely different art.

The biggest offender so far I’ve seen? Castlevania. Admittedly, that may be due to the fact that I see more of that art than any other. I look at little else.

Here’s one of the desktop images for Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, the US version:

And here’s the bitchin’ one they’ve got on the Japanese site:

Both are from the official websites. That’s a pretty stark difference. They’ve even got variations of the US one that make it look a lot nicer, more understated. Heck, they even get MP3s of some of the great music from the game to download.

It seems to me some of these companies don’t really have a firm grip on what the US consumer likes. It may seem odd for me to complain about Castlevania when it’s one of my favorite franchises, but when you look at the art, it’s gotten pretty weak. Maybe this is just me being the jealous less athletic sibling: disappointed that Konami loves their Japanese fans more. But it could be worse. I could have to submit my blood type to get into the site.